1:72 Mask N.A. RB-45C Tornado (VALOM 72122,23,25)

New Ware 1:72 Mask North American RB-45C Tornado

A mask set for the model of the four-engine reconnaissance airplane RB-45C in 1:72 scale. The masks are machine-cut from a self-adhesive sheet and ready to be applied to the clear parts straight away. The set is cut to the shape of the parts of the Valom kits, so it need not fit a model of another origin.

Broken-up glazing and what to do about it

The RB-45C has a glazed nose with a large number of small panes, and the canopy of the pilot's cockpit on top of that. In 1:72 scale the individual frames are narrower than a millimeter, so cutting tape by hand is not only lengthy but inaccurate as well. A pre-cut mask holds the edge exactly and once the spraying is done you take it off with no retouching by brush.

The real subject

The B-45 Tornado was the first American production jet bomber, powered by four engines in underslung nacelles. The RB-45C version came about through its modification for reconnaissance duties; it received photographic equipment and carried wingtip auxiliary fuel tanks. The shape of the fuselage with its glazed nose is one of the most prominent features of the type.

Masking tips

• Leave the clear parts in their bag until masking, as fingerprints show up under the paint.
• Take the masks off with fine-tipped tweezers and apply them one after another, not all at once.
• On very small panes it helps, once the mask is applied, to run a fingernail over the edge through a soft cloth.
• Before the color coat, spray the edge with the interior shade; anything that seeps through will then blend in.
• Lay the paint on in two or three passes, not in one heavy coat.

Who the set is for

• Modelers who are building the very kit the set is cut for.
• Those who have avoided a glazed nose with a great many panes so far.
• Builders who care about a clean transition between the glass and the frame.

This is an accessory for a plastic kit, not a model. The kit, paints and glue are not included in the package.